CALIFORNIA 40 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING

"THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION"

The ministry of reconciliation which Christ has committed to the Church to reconcile sinners to God is of primary importance to the work of the Church today:

"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." 2 Cor. 5: 18, 19

The work of reconciliation is based on forgiveness and grace. We are to help sinners understand that they (we) are reconciled to God through the death of Christ who forgives their sins so they (we) can be brought back into a relationship with God. This is a primary work of the Church.

The greatest hindrance to the work of reconciliation in bringing others to reconcile with God has to do with Christians who do not model nor practice the message of reconciliation with each other. A more simple way to put this is that when we do not forgive others for their sins against us we negate the message of the Cross. This is why Christ taught His followers in the Lord's Prayer "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6: 14, 15  This modeling of forgiveness, so the world will see what forgiveness looks like, is so important that Christ tells us that when we come before Him at the altar to bring our gifts and discover someone has something against us we are to leave the gift at the altar and go be reconciled to them. Matthew 5: 23, 24

Typicaly Biblical Forgiveness is not well understood nor practiced by believers in the modern church. Un-forgiveness is often practiced through what might be called 'avoidance' relationships. We simply avoid people who have hurt us instead of going to them and attempting to reconcile. We justify our hurt feelings and blame the other person's behavior. Christ is still requiring us to take the first step in demonstrating His forgiveness and grace. Biblical forgiveness is defined as "releasing others from the debts they owe us." Matthew 18. When we do not forgive then roots of bitterness and anger take hold in the heart. Releasing others at the Cross does not mean we say what they did was all right and acceptable, it is saying 'I choose not to live as a victim of what was done. Instead, I seek to practice forgiveness at the Cross by naming the offense and the pain it caused me, knowing Christ is with me. I release the person knowing that He is the judge. Then I go to the person and seek to show forgiveness as He leads me. This is what reconciliation looks like. If the person still refuses to be reconciled we have obeyed Christ and can leave them with Him. We cannot live our Christian lives invalidating the forgiveness of Christ by refusing to forgive others or be reconciled with those who hurt us.

Adventures in Prayer:

Ask God to re-visit both past and present relationships in your life. Start with family then look at Church and work associates. Ask Him to show you if there are those who have hurt you that you have not forgiven? Ask Him if there are those who are offended with you? Bringing them before Christ at the Cross is the first place to start. Acknowledge the wrong done and the emotional pain attached to it. Release them and the pain at the Cross. Now ask Him how you are to make contact with the person. God has committed to you and me the ministry of reconciliation. He wants to plead His case to the world through us. Listen to His heart felt appeal:

"Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5: 20

It is time we stop invalidating His work of reconciliation by choosing to forgive. It is time we live what we preach in the modern church.  Amen and hallelujah!

May we reflect God's Love, Forgiveness and Grace to everyone we meet as we live and sing deep within our soul "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they'll know we are Christians by our love."   Let's SHINE for JESUS, loving Him first and our families and our neighbors as ourself -